Evangelization, Practically Speaking

[missionseeker]

Dear Pham,

I have never really found myself in a position where evangelizing has been a really big thing.I've found myself in the random Catholic vs. Protestant debate, but never really been in a place where my witnessing could either help people return to faith or hinder them from doing so. But recently, I have found that I am. Which leads me to all sorts of questions, lol.

Two of my (fellow students and) coworkers and I have found ourselves blessed with the opportunity to "lead" (for lack of a better word) back home. One (D) is a 17 year old girl, who kind of looks up to us in a way. I don't think she's ever had much formal training in the faith at all. For example, she didn't even know that Friday was Good Friday until her mother told her to stop cleaning the house because it was Good Friday. At the same time, she gave up meat for Lent. I can't even do that. She went with two of the girls to Mass last Sunday (and said she wanted to go with us every week)and said to the girls "I should go up to communion should I, because I haven't been to Mass in years?"


The other is really different. He's older than we are, works three jobs, goes to school and supports his family in a different country. He was received in the Church (baptized and all) and couple years ago, but as long as I've know him (October of 2008) he's never been to Mass. He went with me tonight. After D went with them last Sunday he seemed more interested. I'm not sure if this because he misses Mass or because we were so excited or what. Anywho, I was talking today about how much I was excited for the Easter Vigil and about how wonderful it is, and he was like "I will go". I even told him it would be three hours. Anyway, I was able to change before Mass, but he was in his uniform and he wasn't really ... comfortable? He said 'I may leave" but after the first responsorial psalm, he looked at me and said "I will stay" I really do think he was touched by it.

I told him that there is an 8am Mass on Sundays that I go to if I work all day Sunday (we start at nine) and he said he could probably go to that "no promises, though"

So anyway... I know that one little thing can end progress, but.. I'm just unsure of how to be like "You should go to Mass with me" every week, without being... a hinderance and such.

that kind of thing.

[God Conquers]

I think the thing of first thing is to continue being a friend. If they know you are really their friend, then nothing you say (unless you're really mean!!) will be a hindrance.

Second thing: invite, invite, invite. Just invite every week. Mention that you go every week, and tell them why (because you're supposed to and you believe it!)

The third thing, but most important, is to find out where they are at with Jesus. Have they made a decision to live their faith (follow Christ) as an adult and to do it consistently. I know you said this man was just received into the Church, but from the sound of it, he didn't really make the decision to live it out.

I was a missionary for 4 years with college students. Inviting them to make a decision to place Jesus at the center of their lives is absolutely the most effective way to see them returning to mass, receiving the sacraments and beginning a prayer life. Unless you have that personal relationship, and make that personal decision, they will not get the rest and won't be faithful.

[missionseeker]

Thanks. That's helpful. The next step is confession.

D has mentioned it. Idk about the other. I might I get a priest that he knows and who is pretty awesome and who saw him Mass tonight to mention it.

[Ed Normile]

I would not say you have to go to confession, you may say something like now that you are going to mass you are able to receive the gift of reconciliation and penance, especially if you want to receive the greatest gift, the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. I will pray for you and your friends, what a blessing for you to be able to help two souls come before God.

ed

[Jesus_lol]

That second guy is a man of few words


were i in their situation i would really appreciate a friend like you Cat. aside from here on PM i basically have no one to talk religion etc with.

[God Conquers]

[quote name='missionseeker' date='04 April 2010 - 02:46 AM' timestamp='1270363578' post='2086487']
Thanks. That's helpful. The next step is confession.

D has mentioned it. Idk about the other. I might I get a priest that he knows and who is pretty awesome and who saw him Mass tonight to mention it.
[/quote]

For confession, I usually mention that I'm going and invite to come along. Either that or pray for an opportunity, and it will come. For instance people very often share about things which they need to get off their chest... perfect oppportunity to say: "this is how I deal with things like this..."

[missionseeker]

He promised to go with me at 8 am on Sunday. I think Daisy did, too, but I'm not sure.

[Ora et Labora]

It's really weird because I find myself in the "Catholic vs. Protestant" arguments very often! ! They think their being "helpful" but instead they often "hinder." And that leaves me to the point that I almost never explain my side because I don't want to be as utterly annoying and "holier then thou" as they are to me.

Where's the balance?

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Ora et Labora' date='04 April 2010 - 11:29 PM' timestamp='1270441773' post='2086811']
It's really weird because I find myself in the "Catholic vs. Protestant" arguments very often! ! They think their being "helpful" but instead they often "hinder." And that leaves me to the point that I almost never explain my side because I don't want to be as utterly annoying and "holier then thou" as they are to me.

Where's the balance?
[/quote]
The arguments do all tend to ring with self-righteousness, don't they? I had a friend in junior high and high school that I stopped talking to entirely because she tried to turn every single conversation into a religious or political debate (she was a very liberal Christian). It was croutons. After a while I just wouldn't give her anything to go on.

[Ora et Labora]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='05 April 2010 - 12:48 AM' timestamp='1270442897' post='2086813']
The arguments do all tend to ring with self-righteousness, don't they? I had a friend in junior high and high school that I stopped talking to entirely because she tried to turn every single conversation into a religious or political debate (she was a very liberal Christian). It was croutons. After a while I just wouldn't give her anything to go on.
[/quote]

On Friday night one of my Protestant friends introduced me to her friend that's also Protestant. In one hour he talked so much and had so little substance to his words, I was amazed. He knew I was Catholic yet he made comments like "Catholics do NOT have a Christian nature," or "Catholic priests should be married, because that's why they molest boys!"

He knew so little, yet she was enamored by him. I don't know how!

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Ora et Labora' date='04 April 2010 - 11:56 PM' timestamp='1270443413' post='2086815']
On Friday night one of my Protestant friends introduced me to her friend that's also Protestant. In one hour he talked so much and had so little substance to his words, I was amazed. He knew I was Catholic yet he made comments like "Catholics do NOT have a Christian nature," or "Catholic priests should be married, because that's why they molest boys!"

He knew so little, yet she was enamored by him. I don't know how!
[/quote]
...but God help you if you try to address even a single one of their points. It's a battle that can't be won with logic, it seems.

[Ora et Labora]

And I think I explain it well most of the time. They just don't wanna see the whole picture. It's sad. I just stop caring about making my point known.

[missionseeker]

[quote]But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,[/quote]

[Nihil Obstat]

Gentleness and respect........ I like that very much.

[Nunsense]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='05 April 2010 - 05:22 PM' timestamp='1270444932' post='2086826']
Gentleness and respect........ I like that very much.
[/quote]


Me too, but I think sometimes I have a problem with this when dealing with Catholics. I guess I expect them to know their faith and when they start spouting all kinds of liberal theology at me, I get a bit preachy back. I need to learn when to just keep my mouth shut and let God instruct them.

Gentleness and respect..... yes, lovely.

[Marie-Therese]

Well, I was having a conversation with my fiance today (who attended both Vigil and Easter Mass with me), and as some of you who know me are aware, he is unchurched. He believes in God and says that he believes that Jesus is God's Son but was terribly scarred by dealings with evangelical Protestants in his youth that has left him very suspicious of religion in general. Religion has been a sticking point with us at times, to be sure.

Today we were conversing about faith, and about the holier-than-thou attitudes he has dealt with from many Protestants, which is a huge source of his discomfiture. I told him that during my years as a Protestant I obviously had doctrinal issues that Protestant theology couldn't deal with, but there was also a social element which made me feel somewhat out of sorts. Once I found the Catholic Church, all that disappeared. (Deo Gratias!)

I told him that as my Catholic faith deepened and became more rich, I had learned to take God at His word and leave the judgment of the state of other people's souls to Him. Once I stopped trying to assess the other person's "salvation" then that freed me to just be able to love them, because I wasn't wasting time speculating about their spirituality. I think I made more headway in that one conversation that I have in a long time.

[Ora et Labora]

[quote name='Marie-Therese' date='05 April 2010 - 03:00 AM' timestamp='1270450849' post='2086852']
Well, I was having a conversation with my fiance today (who attended both Vigil and Easter Mass with me), and as some of you who know me are aware, he is unchurched. He believes in God and says that he believes that Jesus is God's Son but was terribly scarred by dealings with evangelical Protestants in his youth that has left him very suspicious of religion in general. Religion has been a sticking point with us at times, to be sure.

Today we were conversing about faith, and about the holier-than-thou attitudes he has dealt with from many Protestants, which is a huge source of his discomfiture. I told him that during my years as a Protestant I obviously had doctrinal issues that Protestant theology couldn't deal with, but there was also a social element which made me feel somewhat out of sorts. Once I found the Catholic Church, all that disappeared. (Deo Gratias!)

I told him that as my Catholic faith deepened and became more rich, I had learned to take God at His word and leave the judgment of the state of other people's souls to Him. Once I stopped trying to assess the other person's "salvation" then that freed me to just be able to love them, because I wasn't wasting time speculating about their spirituality. I think I made more headway in that one conversation that I have in a long time.
[/quote]

That's awesome! And congratulations by the way! I find that very comforting and inspiring because that is the attitude I need to remember to have with my Protestant friends.

[God Conquers]

[quote name='Marie-Therese' date='05 April 2010 - 03:00 AM' timestamp='1270450849' post='2086852']
Well, I was having a conversation with my fiance today (who attended both Vigil and Easter Mass with me), and as some of you who know me are aware, he is unchurched. He believes in God and says that he believes that Jesus is God's Son but was terribly scarred by dealings with evangelical Protestants in his youth that has left him very suspicious of religion in general. Religion has been a sticking point with us at times, to be sure.

Today we were conversing about faith, and about the holier-than-thou attitudes he has dealt with from many Protestants, which is a huge source of his discomfiture. I told him that during my years as a Protestant I obviously had doctrinal issues that Protestant theology couldn't deal with, but there was also a social element which made me feel somewhat out of sorts. Once I found the Catholic Church, all that disappeared. (Deo Gratias!)

I told him that as my Catholic faith deepened and became more rich, I had learned to take God at His word and leave the judgment of the state of other people's souls to Him. Once I stopped trying to assess the other person's "salvation" then that freed me to just be able to love them, because I wasn't wasting time speculating about their spirituality. I think I made more headway in that one conversation that I have in a long time.
[/quote]

Yay! Right on! Keep it up!

Advantage to his being unchurched: He probably could be open to conversation (sometime... right place right time come holy spirit) about who Jesus is, and why Christianity is your faith of choice. Particularly since he says he believes Jesus is God's Son. Trilemma FTW.

[HisChildForever]

[quote name='missionseeker' date='04 April 2010 - 02:46 AM' timestamp='1270363578' post='2086487']
Thanks. That's helpful. The next step is confession.

D has mentioned it. Idk about the other. I might I get a priest that he knows and who is pretty awesome and who saw him Mass tonight to mention it.
[/quote]

It would be amazingly helpful if a priest incorporated Confession in his homily. Next weekend is Divine Mercy Sunday, so it should be mentioned during the homily. Therefore, definitely encourage your friends to go to Mass this weekend. They may not get a chance to go after Mass, but at least a huge seed will be planted in their hearts. You could, however, mention Divine Mercy Sunday to them BEFORE the weekend, perhaps when you invite them to Mass (say Wednesday or Thursday). Stress how wonderful an opportunity it would be to go to Confession this weekend, and that such an opportunity only happens once a year. I love Divine Mercy Sunday because it just so happened that it was that Saturday I went to Confession after seven years. I had just gotten out of a terrible relationship a couple days after Easter and literally ran to Confession.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='HisChildForever' date='05 April 2010 - 11:24 AM' timestamp='1270484699' post='2086977']
It would be amazingly helpful if a priest incorporated Confession in his homily. Next weekend is Divine Mercy Sunday, so it should be mentioned during the homily.
[/quote]

Also, the gospel for next Sunday deals with the institution of the Sacrament of Penance by our Lord.